Word Origin & History

carry c.1320, from Anglo-Fr. carier "to transport in a vehicle," from Gallo-Romance *carrizare, from L.L. carricare, from L. carrum (see car). Sense of "gain victory in an election" is from 1619. Carrier "person or animal that carries and disseminates infection without suffering obvious disease" is from 1899; genetic sense is 1933. As a short form of aircraft carrier it dates from 1917. Carrier pigeon is from 1641. Carry-all in the baggage sense is from 1884. Carrying capacity is attested from 1883. Carry on "continue to advance" is from 1649; carryings-on "questionable doings" is from 1663. Carry-castle ...(1598) was an old descriptive term for an elephant.